Does anybody have any information or opinions on the Grand company's
inflatable dinghies? I'm in the process of buying a new inflatable. The
Zodiac's and Avon's are great boats but they carry a premium pricetag.
I'm considering buying this competitor's product but don't have any idea
about their track record or construction quality. I'm thinking about the
ELF 270 in particular.

Frank

"Frank Gerry" wrote in message
...

Does anybody have any information or opinions on the Grand company's
inflatable dinghies? I'm in the process of buying a new inflatable. The
Zodiac's and Avon's are great boats but they carry a premium pricetag. I'm
considering buying this competitor's product but don't have any idea about
their track record or construction quality. I'm thinking about the ELF 270
in particular.

Correction: Avons (Hypalon) are good boats, Zodiacs (PVC) are crap.
Do yourself a favor and buy a Caribe (Hypalon). Around here Zodiacs
fall apart within a couple of years. Avons do much better. While in the
Bahamas, we noticed that about half the inflatables at the dindy docks
or in anchorages were Caribe.


Frank

How about Achilles? I have an old hypalon Achilles that seems to be holding
up well.
--Alan Gomes

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message
...

"Frank Gerry" wrote in message
...

Does anybody have any information or opinions on the Grand company's
inflatable dinghies? I'm in the process of buying a new inflatable. The
Zodiac's and Avon's are great boats but they carry a premium pricetag.
I'm considering buying this competitor's product but don't have any idea
about their track record or construction quality. I'm thinking about the
ELF 270 in particular.

Correction: Avons (Hypalon) are good boats, Zodiacs (PVC) are crap.
Do yourself a favor and buy a Caribe (Hypalon). Around here Zodiacs
fall apart within a couple of years. Avons do much better. While in the
Bahamas, we noticed that about half the inflatables at the dindy docks
or in anchorages were Caribe.


Frank

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 23:46:44 -0800, "Alan Gomes" wrote:

How about Achilles? I have an old hypalon Achilles that seems to be holding
up well.
========================

Achilles is one of the better low cost inflatables but there is no
comparison to an Avon in terms of overall quality and durability.

Anything Hypalon is better than anything PVC. I had an Achilles before
the Caribe. Sold it to a friend and it is holding up very well. It's 15
years
old now.

Doug

"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
...
How about Achilles? I have an old hypalon Achilles that seems to be
holding up well.
--Alan Gomes

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message
...

"Frank Gerry" wrote in message
...

Does anybody have any information or opinions on the Grand company's
inflatable dinghies? I'm in the process of buying a new inflatable. The
Zodiac's and Avon's are great boats but they carry a premium pricetag.
I'm considering buying this competitor's product but don't have any idea
about their track record or construction quality. I'm thinking about the
ELF 270 in particular.

Correction: Avons (Hypalon) are good boats, Zodiacs (PVC) are crap.
Do yourself a favor and buy a Caribe (Hypalon). Around here Zodiacs
fall apart within a couple of years. Avons do much better. While in the
Bahamas, we noticed that about half the inflatables at the dindy docks
or in anchorages were Caribe.


Frank

I wouldn;t call Achilles low cost. At least the one I had wasn't when it was
purchased.

Doug

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 23:46:44 -0800, "Alan Gomes" wrote:

How about Achilles? I have an old hypalon Achilles that seems to be
holding
up well.
========================

Achilles is one of the better low cost inflatables but there is no
comparison to an Avon in terms of overall quality and durability.

I replaced my Achilles after 21 years of use as a tender. I donated it
to a local recycling/fix it place. For all I know it is still in use. I
replaced it with an air floor.

Cheaper maybe. Less durable? I think not.

harlan

For all I know it is still in use. In article
,
"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote:

Anything Hypalon is better than anything PVC. I had an Achilles before
the Caribe. Sold it to a friend and it is holding up very well. It's 15
years
old now.

Doug

"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
...
How about Achilles? I have an old hypalon Achilles that seems to be
holding up well.
--Alan Gomes

"Doug Dotson" dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote in message
...

"Frank Gerry" wrote in message
...

Does anybody have any information or opinions on the Grand company's
inflatable dinghies? I'm in the process of buying a new inflatable. The
Zodiac's and Avon's are great boats but they carry a premium pricetag.
I'm considering buying this competitor's product but don't have any idea
about their track record or construction quality. I'm thinking about the
ELF 270 in particular.

Correction: Avons (Hypalon) are good boats, Zodiacs (PVC) are crap.
Do yourself a favor and buy a Caribe (Hypalon). Around here Zodiacs
fall apart within a couple of years. Avons do much better. While in the
Bahamas, we noticed that about half the inflatables at the dindy docks
or in anchorages were Caribe.


Frank





--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 18:12:22 -0500, "Doug Dotson"
dougdotson@NOSPAMcablespeedNOSPAMcom wrote:

I wouldn;t call Achilles low cost. At least the one I had wasn't when it was
purchased.

======================================

Well under the cost of a comparable Avon when I bought mine (quite a
few years ago).